"Whoa, so modern," I mutter as I walk through the streets of Levington, one of Irvine's most prosperous city. I glance at the tall skyscrapers, lavish mansions, and magic-powered carts decorated with jewels on the streets.

I walk toward the gigantic building in the center of the city–Plywood Academy.

"Ms Vonville. It's an honor for Plywood Academy to host you," Principal Valeron greets me in his office.

"The feeling is mutual, Principal Valeron. I hope we can work together to the betterment of all in the future," I reply.

Gee. Betterment of all; I will make a decent politician at this rate.

"These are documents that you will need to teach our students, Ms Vonville. Your room is number 288 on the seventh floor; here is the key."

"Room? I didn't know Plywood is a boarding school," I reply as I carefully pick up the key and the documents.

"We can afford to build housing for the staff and students after Queen Seira cut the budget for military and doubled the budget for education," Principal Valeron explains with a smile, "she's such a great queen."

"Very well. I notice that I will be teaching a class in one hour, so please excuse me," I say, my eyebrow almost raising.

"If you require any assistance, feel free to contact me or any of the staff, or perhaps your friend, Ms Greenbell. She's in the duelling courtroom."

"Noted, Principal Valeron." With that in mind, I leave the principal's office. 

"This is stupid!" Aelita loudly complains as soon as I reach the courthouse.

The Twelfth Imperial Guard Division, a proud team of three dedicated to eradicating entities that might threaten Irvine, is now being used by the so-called great Queen Seira in the cleverest and most wise way: send them as academy teachers!

"I can't disagree," I grumble as I watch pitiful academy students attempt to hit each other with fireballs or lightning bolts in Aelita's duelling class.

"What's the name of the academy again?" Aelita grumbles.

"Plywood Academy. It's been six months for you, how could you forget?"

"Haha ... I'm going insane after not battling for a while," Aelita admits, "it's funny, eh? I didn't want this life; I wanted to just be a battle mage and protect my parents during their voyages, but now I'm stuck in this kind of life and I enjoy it."

"I guess," I reply, "anyway, it's my first class now."

"Which class?"

"Class 1C," I reply while pinching my forehead. I have absolutely no expertise or experience in teaching; during the six months period, I was sent to the coast to help bolster defenses–how I wish I can return there.

"Oh, good luck with that class," Aelita grumbles, "I think they brought you here because I have raised the white flag about teaching that class."

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"Imagine Remi's pride, your easy-to-get-pissed attitude, and Agatha's delinquency combined into one. That's Class 1C," Aelita says.

"Hey, I don't have an easy-to-get-pissed attitude!" I bark.

"Pfft, just got you." Aelita laughs.

"Yeah, you know me better than almost everyone else does," I admit, "anyway, I'm leaving. Good luck with your own class!"

"Take back your good luck. You'll need it," Aelita says as she smirks.

I walk through the stairs adorned with red carpets. "Ah, Ms Vonville. Please take care of yourself," says literally every single teacher I meet halfway through, amplifying my curiousness.

Even twenty metres from Class 1C, I can hear the ridiculous amount of noise emitted by its students.

I enter the class by (literally) kicking the door open, so as to divert their attention, but even that is not enough as the sound is drowned by the chattering. The class reeks of alcohol and cigarette smoke. Now, I know why everyone, even Aelita, scorns this class.

"Alright, everyone, today ...."

Heck, the noises are so obnoxious that I can barely listen to myself. So, I have to do what Aelita cannot.

I release my aura, causing the ground to shake, silencing these nasty students. They stare at my eyes blankly, their feet trembling alongside the ground.

"I heard that you've caused significant troubles," I say as I stare at them one by one, "not in my class. This is the kindest response I can give to you should you dare wreck havoc in my class, I assure you."

"Follow me," I instruct as I open the door, leaving the class. The flock of students quietly stand up from their desks and follow me.

During our walk to the training grounds, a few of my fellow teachers watch at me in awe. Several raise their thumbs while flashing their hugest smiles, which I reply to with a small grin.

I find the field empty, Aelita and her students having, presumably, left.

"I read the reports that this class is the worst class when it comes to attitude," I begin my small speech, "I will change that."

"Your goal is to snatch this necklace from me," I say, pointing at my jade necklace, "you have two hours, beginning from now. I will, of course, provide opposition."

"What if we don't want to?" Elaine the prez grumbles. Her challenge is replied to with a few noises of agreement.

I unsheathe my blade. "I reckon being stabbed while fighting is better than being stabbed while sitting idly."

Almost immediately, the students scatter into several groups; some large ones have up to fifteen members, some having merely three or four.

"What are you doing?" I ask with an eyebrow lifted, "do you really think you can snatch my necklace by dividing yourselves?"

My question is answered by an ambush from behind. A red haired girl with a lightning blade leads the attack.

"Too slow, too weak," I comment as I duck.

"Advent of Roots!" Two of her teammates unleash several thick roots at me, reminding me of Aelita.

I jump to the air. "Dance of Bones!" I launch four pipe bones at the duo, but the redhead arrives on time to cast a lightning cloak, destroying the bones.

"Divine Devastation!"  Four light beams are fired at me by four members of another group. I dodge it by jumping upwards.

"Idiot!" The redhead curses; without me, the beams blast them head-on.

"I see," I say, "you're using the other groups for your own benefit. What a shame."

"Blood Flood!" I wave my hand a small pool of blood washes over the quartet, sending them flying.

I eye the remaining two groups, fourteen people each, one led by the class president, and the other led by the class vice president.

"Is that it? Tch ... I thought you're arrogant because of your combat abilities. What a let down."

"Elaine, I don't like this, but we have to work together," Revan the vice prez hisses.

"Fine," Elaine replies.

"Very well. Let's see what you have learned! Dance of Bones!"

I shower them with sharp bones from the sky. Several of the students unleash their mana into a barrier, repelling the waves of bones.

"Flamethrower!" A few students breath fire, surrounding me with hot fire. I put bones and rotting flesh around my body, blocking the heat.

"Water Blast!" A wave of water soon follows, evaporating the flames and creating hot steam, clouding my vision.

I flap my wings, attempting to fly upwards, only to be met by a strong gust of wind, forcing me into the vaporous area.

The prez appears before me, her long blade coated in lightning. "Heah!" she screams as she thrusts her blade onto my neck.

"Blood Shockwave!" I repel her assault with a shockwave, hurling her to the air. A net of wind is cast below, saving Elaine.

"Lightning Gale!" Revan and his teammates fire arcs of lightning at me.

"So Revan is a long range lightning mage and Elaine is a short range one. I have to keep an eye on the latter," I mumble. "Blood–"

"Ms Vonville! Ms Vonville!" A teacher dispels the mist, her voice calling out to me. "Please help! There's an attack!"